Murray Parliament

Murray Parliament

Khue Nguyen

Design Thesis - Inland Public MSD S01 - 2021 1063855

Ta bl e o f Co nte n t s Thesis Proposal

01

Research

Design Exploration

Week 1

31

Week 2

39

Week 3

57

Week 4

69

Week 5

79

Week 6

85

Indigenous Engagement Design Development

Bibliography

99 Week 7

101

Week 8

111

Week 9

119

Week 10 + 11

131 141

Murray Parliament A NEW RIPARIAN STATE

1

In 2019 push-backs against the Victorian Forestry Plan to end native logging by 2030 revealed a misalignment between the Government policies, regional towns’ sociocultural and economic values, and an understanding of the ecological conditions.[1] In the ecologically damaged Murray-Darling Basin context, this misalignment is especially relevant to twin towns along the Murray River where river political representation is fragmented by the tristate borders.

This poses challenges to achieving effective and sustainable regional resource planning, which requires collection, analysis and reflection of local knowledge, moral and ethical values.[2] Envisioning new state borders forming the Murray Riparian State, a political representative body for the people and towns along the Murray River, this thesis proposes a new parliament model that is decentralised and semi-replicable at various twin towns.

Challenging the conventional notion of municipal architecture, this model hybridises the pedestrian bridge and parliament typologies while providing a river-specific library and recreational infrastructure at the riverfront. Through the juxtaposition of municipal programs and public spaces, the proposal highlights the intertwined politicalenvironmental relationship in riparian towns and promotes awareness of the river ecology.

With their rich timber production history and adjacency to the internationally significant Gunbower forest, the Mid Murray towns of Koondrook and Barham will be the first site in which this model is further developed. [3]

[1] Victorian Forestry Plan. (2021, March 19). Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://djpr.vic.gov.au/ forestry/forestry-plan [2] Zhu, X., & Dale, A. P. (2000). Identifying Opportunities for Decision Support Systems in Support of Regional Resource Use Planning: An Approach Through Soft Systems Methodology. Environmental Management: An International Journal for Decision Makers, Scientists and Environmental Auditors, 26(4), 371. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s002670010094 [3] AUTHORITY, M. D. B. (2012). Gunbower Forest.

2

South Australia

Victoria South Australia

Echuca & Moama

Koondrook & Barham

Nyah & Koraleigh

3

Robinvale & Euston

Mildura & Buronga

Renmark & Paringa

100 km

50

0 10

Mannum & Cowirra

Murray Bridge & Riverglades

Murray River - Tri-state Map

ACT

New Sou th W Vict ales oria

ria

2 100

Wahgunyah & Corowa

Wodonga & Albury

Murray Riparian State

0

Yarrawonga & Mulwala

Cobram & Barooga

4

th W ales Vic to

Sou

New

Guttram State Forest

Guttram State Forest

Barham

Koondrook

Barham

Koondrook Gunbower State Forest

LEGEND Victoria - NSW Border

Forest Management Zone General Management Zone

Gunbower State Forest

Special Management Zone Special Protection Zone

Forest Types Box Mixed River Red Gum and Box Open Plain or Swamp

Forest management

River Red Gum (

Guttram State Forest

Guttram State Forest

Barham

LEGEND Victoria - NSW Border

Koondrook

Forest Management Zone

Barham

General Management Zone Special Management Zone Special Protection Zone

Koondrook

Forest Types Box Mixed River Red Gum and Box

Gunbower State Forest

Open Plain or Swamp River Red Gum (

Gunbower State Forest

LEGEND Victoria - NSW Border Forest Inundation Water Surface

Inundation management 5

De-centralised Parliament Central Parliament

A de-centralised Parliament model

The Murray’s seat at the table

6

7

Site Plan 0

10

20

30

8

50

Dialogue of Axes

Library Extension

Frontage

Formal axis

Town front

Riv er

Riv er

Existing library

lib

rar

y

ed

River front

ge

Public

Site Responses

Municipal

Cut out form footbridge

Rotate to face Forum

Thread to the missing piece

Parliament Chamber

Barham

Public Municipal Shared municipal & public Recreational

Koondrook

Tourist park

Juxtaposition of public and municipal programs Building as transitions on footbridge

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10

View form Footbridge

A

10 2 4 1

B

10

3

A

11

4

5

6 8 7

9

B

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ground Floor Plan 0

2

5

10

12

Entry point Heritage bridge pavilion River forum Floating parliament chamber Reception/Librarian/Visitor information Library open stack Children library River terrace Focus work space Meeting rooms Amenities/Storage

Main Entry 13

14

A View to below

B

Reading room

B

Level 2 Floor Plan 0

B

2

5

10

B

Secured office

Roof terrace

A Level 1 Floor Plan 0

2

5

10

1917 Flood 77.5 AHD Minor Flood 76.8 AHD

Gauge Zero: 71.28 AHD

15

Section AA 0

1

2

3

16

5

Roof Terrace 17

18

1917 Flood - 77.5 AHD Minor Flood - 76.8 AHD

Gauge Zero - 71.28 AHD

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Section BB 0

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2

5

10

0

2

5

10

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0

22

2

5

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View from river 23

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Research Week 1 | XL

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MURRAY THE RIVER

Spanning three states, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, the Murray River is the longest river in the continent and a key element in the country’s history, economy and ecology. Occupied by the Aborigines up to 60,000 years ago, the Murray River only began to see significant transformation after the arrival of European settlers in 1788.

These interventions include constructions of dams and weirs in efforts to alter the river’s water flow, control flooding, store water and distribute to agricultural irrigation, and intensive clearing and grazing of the surrounding landscape.[1] While creating towns and establishing a major portion of Australia’s agriculture, these man-made and largescale projects also decimated the riverine Aboriginal societies and practices, altered the river’s environment and led to systemic and long-lasting ecological degradations.

The thesis begins with research exploration to obtain an overall understanding of the River Murray context. Task 1 - XL studies the river through the lens of the ecological, social, cultural and economic issues surrounding its resource usage and management.

Investigations of two locations along the river, Lake Victoria and Barmah Forest reveal the river as an interconnected ecological system that is intrinsically tied to all life aspects of the people residing around it.

[1] Pascoe, B. (2018). Dark Emu : aboriginal Australia and the birth of agriculture (New edition.). Magabala Books.

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B r o k en H i l l

Lake Victoria

D a r lin g R iv e r

Iv a n h o e

R en m ark

W illa n d r a C r e e k

M ild u ra

L

h ac

la

n

R

iv

er

River Murray

ADELAIDE Ed

M u r r ay B r id g e

war

dR i

ve

r

South Australia

Avoc

aR

iv

Deniliquin er

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u

rr

ay

R

iv

er

B en d ig o

H o rs h am

Wim me

Murray Darling Basin Boundary

Murray Darling Basin across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia

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ra R ive

r

Dubbo

O ran g e Fo r b es

SYDNEY

Gr iffith r

Barmah Forest

er

R iv e

W ag g a W ag g a B

illa

bo n

Riv Tumut

M u r r u m b id g e e

g C re ek

CANBERRA ACT

A lb u ry

S h ep p arto n

New Sou th W Vict ales oria

Seym our

M ELB O URNE

0

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100

200 km

Lake Victoria Remotely located in south western New South Wales, between Renmark and Mildura, Lake Victoria is significant in several aspects including state water supply, ecology, culture and heritage. Connected to the River Murray via Rufus River, one of 18 salt interception scheme locations, Lake Victoria assists in salinity mitigation and water flow regulation. As a naturally occurring shallow lake, Lake Victoria acts as an off-river storage during winter/spring and ensures the delivery of sufficient water supply to South Australia in the summer/autumn period. [1] In 1994, Aboriginal burial sites and artifacts were discovered while the lake water level was lowered for maintenance, rendering Lake Victoria a culturally and spiritually significant location for Aboriginal heritage conservation3 lake vic brochure.

Two major environmental challenges at Lake Vicotria are: increasing salinity of the adjacent floodplain, and the erosion of Aboriginal burial sites. [3]

[1] Lake Victoria. (2015, October 27). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://www.mdba.gov.au/ water-management/infrastructure/lake-victoria [2] Lake Victoria - a special place. (2016, June 30). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://www.mdba. gov.au/publications/mdba-reports/lake-victoria-special-place [3] Ellemor, H. (2019). Lake Victoria: a case study in inter jurisdictional management of water resourcers.

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Conflict on the Rufus, South Australia (from a sketch by W.A. Cawthorne) – State Library of Victoria Painting by Peter Peterson

Erosion protection works on the southern foreshore of Lake Victoria.

Lake Victoria System, Schmitt 1984

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D a r lin g R iv e r

R en m ark

M ild u ra River Murray

ADELAIDE

Barmah Forest

M u r r ay B r id g e The Barmah Forest is the largest River Red Gum forest in Australia, and is international recognised as a Ramsar site. Centuries of European settlement and large-scale alteration of the water flow has led to significant degradation of the forest health. As the river red gum trees depend on seasonal flooding to thrive, inundation of the Barmah Forest area has become a big debate.

South Australia

H o rs h am

Wim m

e ra

Riv e

[1] Yotti’ Kingsley, Jonathan, Townsend, M., Phillips, R., & Aldous, D. (2009). “If the land is healthy … it makes the people healthy”: The relationship between caring for Country and health for the Yorta Yorta Nation, Boonwurrung and Bangerang Tribes. Health and Place, 15(1), 291–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2008.05.009

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A

In addition to its ecological significance, the Barmah Forest also lies at the heart of the Yorta Yorta Nation. Damages to the forest sparked conversation about the Aboriginal river practices and knowledge. Discussions with members of the Yorta Yorta Nation reveals a different way of perceiving the river, not merely a resource to meet human’s survial needs but as a transient entity with agency. [1]

r

Iv a n h o e

W illa n d r a C r e e k

Fo r b

La

c

a hl

n

R

iv

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M u r r u m b id g e e

Ed

war

dR iv

Gr iffith R iv e

r

W ag g a W ag g a

er

B

M

er

u

rr

ay

voca

Ri

v

Deniliquin

R

iv

A lb u ry

S h ep p arto n

B en d ig o

Seym our

M ELB O URNE

Barmah forest location

50

bo n g C re ek

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Barmah Forest

0

illa

100 km

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Research Week 2 | L

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KOONDROOK & BARHAM: THE TWIN TOWNS

Located in the Mallee region of Victoria and Farrer region of New South Wales, Koondrook and Barham are the more “quiet” twin towns of the Murray River. The towns are uniquely located between two River Red gum forests, Guttram State Forest and Gunbower State Forest. A Ramsar site, the latter is the second largest River Red Gum forest in Australia, one of six Living Murray iconic sites and holds significant ecological importance as a home to many threatened fauna and flora species.

Task 2 - L aims to gain a deep understanding of the town context, its residents and relationship with the river. Through mapping, the study of Koondrook and Barham reveals a duality between environmental conditions and environmental policies. That is, for aspect of the surrounding landscape such as water, trees, or brushfire, there is some form of government zoning policy accompanying it.

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Historical Timeline Australia 100M to 60M years ago Australian land mass shifted from being islands and submerged in sea water to rising land mass above sea level

Koondrook & Barham

60M - 30M years ago Formation of the Murray Basin began to take place - as sea water flowed away from land mass and carved rivers.

55,000-30,000 years ago Aboriginal settlement 30,000 - 25,000 years ago Cabell Tilt Block diverted and formed new course on the Murray river.

12,000 - 6,000 years ago New river course along with flooding triggered the creation of large river red gum forests 1788 “Discovery” and early European settlement in Australia 1820s-1830s European settlers began exploration of the Murray and Darling river

1830s-1860s Aboriginal societies and population decimated due to European-introduced disease and conflicts.

1850 Australian Gold rushes Large population moved to the Murray River lands -> squatters settled on river frontage and cattle farming was introduced to the valley

Wemba-Wemba Aborigines occupation the Koondrook district Gunbower Island is believed to have been inhabited by 8 clans of the Barababaraba Aborigines

1843 Arrival of first European settlers at Koondrook/ Cohuna (Gannawarra region) 1870s - 1890s Koondrook became a service port for paddlesteam trade and continued to expand socially (church, school, hotel etc.)

1880s - 1920s The shipbuilding and paddlesteamer industry flourished in Koondrook 1888 - 1889 A private tramway connecting to Kerang was established. Kerang was connected to Melbourne via Bendigo by railway.

Arbuthnot Sawmill was established and began operation.

Fig. 1 In the bed of the Murray, Drought, 19 Courtesy of the Cohuna and District Historical Society Collection

1914-1915 El Nino events and irrigation water pumping dried up the Murray River .

1960s Discovery of 13,000-year-old fossils indicated that a second and different Aboriginal clan occupied Australia

1890 First irrigation pump was opened and propelled the local dairy industry 1904 Opening of now Heritage registered Koondrook- Barham lift bridge Early 20th century Barham began planting citrus fruits in 1911 and expanded the economy of both towns

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Barham

Koondrook

2008-2009 Debates over establishment of new national parks: local logging saw economy or environmental impacts to river ecology and river red gum forest (Gunbower, Koondrook)

2010s-now In Koondrook, logging jobs significantly decrease but is still in top 5 employment industry.

Like many other Murray river towns, tourism was established and flourished in Koodrook and Barham (fishing, river red gum forest walk etc.)

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2019 Victoria Government announced a plan to reduce logging and cease all native logging by 2030

Climate According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate classification, Koondrook and Barham are located in the grassland area with cold winter, and hot and dry summer. The region receives most of its rainfall in the winter and has low rainfall in the summer. [1]

[1] Climate classification maps. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/climate_averages/climate-classifications/index.jsp

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Koondrook and Barham location

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Logging History Recent data shows that trees in the Guttram and Gunbower State Forest continue to be used for timber production, sustaining 11 sawmill jobs in Koondrook as of the 2016 Census. [1] Established in 1889, Arbuthnot Sawmill employs local residents and plays a critical role in the history of town expansion.

The Gunbower Forest to the south of Koondrook and Koondrook-Perricoota Forest to the south of Barham are both mosaics of river ref gum, black box and grey box communities.

[2] As the result, these spices form the majority of logging sites. The adjacent map shows that within the past 20 years, in areas closest to Koondrook and Barham, most of river red gum logging occurred between 2010-2019.

Timber mill in Koondrook, 1960

[1] 2016 Census QuickStats. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://quickstats.censusdata.abs. gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC2137 [2] AUTHORITY, M. D. B. (2012). Koondrook–Perricoota.

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Guttram Guttram State Fo F orest Forest

am

Koondrook K Ko on ndrook k

Forest F Fo rest

LEGEND LEG GEND Victoria Vi iccttoria - NSW Border Forest

Recent Logging g Site Site 2000-09 2010-19

Logging Logg ging Forest Ty T Type pe Box Ironbark r rk Red Gum River Red Gum Unknown w wn

Map of recent logging zones and logging forest types 46

Forest Management Zones

The adjacent map shows that the majority of Gunbower State Forest is still under General Management Zone (GMZ) which prioritize timber production. Other uses may include education, recreation, fire protection and landscape conservation. In conjunction with Fig. 1 (last page), it is apparent that the River Red Gum population in Gunbower Forest and Guttram Forest are without full protection.

Small areas within these state forests are under Special Management Zone (SMZ). This level of management can limit timber production and aims to protect specific significant features such as historic sites or threatened fauna and flora species.

The Special Protection Zone (SPZ) prioritises landscape conservation and excludes all timber production activities. [1]

[1] Forests and Reserves. (2019, July 01). Forest Protection Survey Program. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.forestsandreserves.vic.gov.au/forest-management

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am m

Koond K Ko on nd

Fore F Fo re

LEGEND LEG GEND Victoria V ict ctoria - NSW Border

Forest Ma Management anageement Zon Zone ne nagement n agement Zone agement agem ment Zone ct ion n Zone Zone cction

Forest Fore est T Ty Types y pe s Box B ox Mixed M ixed River Red d Gum and Box Open Plain or Swamp Sw wamp River Red Gum (

Map of forest types and forest management zones 48

Inundation Management River red gum forests along the Murray River rely on seasonal flooding for growth and regeneration, and often benefit from high flooding frequency. However, construction of dams and large-scale water regulations have have led to reduction in partial flooding. [1] Studies on the condition of river red gum forests have shown that their health decline corrolates with increasing distance from the Hume Dam. [2] In addition to river reg gum forests, lack of flooding water also negatively impacts the animals and plants that relying on this type of habitat.

Responding to this issue, various government agencies, from federal to state to water and park autority, initiated the Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP).

Koondrook and Barham are located between two out of nine hgih-value floodplains included in the VMFRP, which are the Gunbower (to the south) and Guttram-Benwell (to the north). The project aims to monitor natural flooding and release water when required to keep the landscape healthy. [3] As the result, Koondrook and Barham will continue to see changes to water level, flooding, and hopefully positive changes to the surrounding landscape and ecology.

[1] Bren, L. J. (1988). Effects of river regulation on flooding of a riparian red gum forest on the River Murray, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research & Management, 2(2), 65–77.

[2] Cunningham, S., Mac Nally, R., White, M., Read, J., Baker, P., Thomson, J., & Griffioen, P. (2007).

Mapping the current condition of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.) stands along the Victorian Murray River floodplain. Report to the northern Victorian Catchment Management Authorities and the Department of Sustainability and Environment. Department of Sustainability and Environment, Melbourne.

[3] Website (2021, March 01). Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://www.vmfrp.com.au/

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arham m

K

LEGEND LEGEN ND

Map of current inundation extent in relation to forest and wetland 50

Irrigation Properties

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B2

A

B1

F

E

D

A

A

B

C

D

vmfrp.com.au

Secondary componet inundation filled by temporary pumps

Secondary componet inundation filled by temporary pumps

Wallawalla West

Lock 9

A

Wallpolla Creek MSH

Structure 1

MLI

A

E

MLG

A

Wallawalla East

MFS

Lock 7

A US2

MS1

MSC

Lindsay River

MSD

Finnegans Creek

MLE

River Murray

Lake Wallawalla

F

Rufus River

Mildura

MSA

Lake Powell A4

Bonyarical Creek

Lake Carpul

Influence of Lock 15 finishes

ERI

S104

J1a

S14

J1d

River Murray S106

Narcooyia Creek

Belsar Island

S5

Lindsay South Wetland

Wallpolla Creek

B

Lock 10

Darling River

S7

J1e J1h

J1f

J1b

ER3

S109

J1g

J1d

Flow Direction

N1a

N1b N2

Lake Kramen

Chalka Creek

Lake Cantala

Oatys Regulator

K10 Causewayr

Yungera Island

S108

K10 Regulator

Belsar–Yungera

S4

S105

Lake Hattah

Lake Lockie

Bitterang Regulator

Bitterang Levee

Robinvale

Lake Victoria

Lake Mournpal

Lake Bolca

Murray River

Wallpolla Island

Mullaroo Creek

Websters Lagoon

Wallpolla Island

Toupnein Creek

Lindsay Island

Lindsay Island

Berribee Pool

Berribee Regulator

Secondary componet inundation downstream of Berribee Regulator filled via gravity

TLM infrastructure

Existing irrigation pumps

Proposed infrastructure

B

Crankhandle

C

Crankhandle Wetland Complex

Temporary pumps for env. water

Crankhandle West

[1] Website (2021, March 01). Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project (VMFRP). Retrieved March 27, 2021, from https://www.vmfrp.com.au/ Swan Hill

River Murray

Nyah

V4

N5

Nyah

Swan Hill

V2

Victoria

Guttrum Swamp Complex

Red Bed Swamp Complex

New South Wales

Murray River

Koondrook

V1

River Murray

Vinifera

Murray River

Echuca

V3

V4

Gunbower Creek

Old Cohuna Main Channel

Deep Creek

Gunbower Creek

Baggot Swamp

Victoria

Masters Landing

Torrumbarry Weir Murray River

Melbourne

Echuca

Victoria

Inundation extent

Wetlands

Gunbower National Park

Koondrook Perricoota Forest

Existing Channel Block Banks

Regulating structures

Pump station

Levee requiring repair or replacement

Camerons Creek

Black Charlie Lagoon

Echuca

Pig Swamp

Old Straight Cut Channel

Boat Ramp

New South Wales

Gunbower

Swan Hill

Melbourne

Victoria

Mildura

Vinifera

Guttrum–Benwell

South Benwell Swamp

Benwell Swamp

Tooleybuck B4

B2

Burra

Burra Creek

B1

Hattah Lakes North

Messengers Regulator

River Murray

Hattah Lakes

Gunbower Echuca

Spur Creek

Broken Axle Creek

Victoria

Melbourne Red Rise Swamp

Murray River Deep Creek

New South Wales Old Cohuna Main Channel

Boat Ramp Masters Landing Old Straight Cut Channel

Brereton Road Pig Swamp

Emu Hole Lagoon

Victoria

Torrumbarry Weir

Disused irrigation channels

Murray River

Roads Waterway

Baggot Swamp

Pipeline Levee

Black Charlie Lagoon

Gunbower Creek

Containment bank

Camerons Creek

Return Flows Pump station

Torrumbarry Weir Road

Regulating structures Existing Channel Block Banks Koondrook Perricoota Forest

National Channel Gunbower National Park Wetland inundation extent Forest inundation extent

Gunbower Project Site

Koondrook Echuca

Victoria

Melbourne

Murray River

Benwell Swamp Benwell Southwest Swamp

New South Wales

Victoria

Guttrum Swamp Complex

Levees Pump station Reed Bed Swamp Complex

Regulating structures

Cambells Island Forest Guttrum and Benwell Forests Wetland inundation extent Forest inundation extent

Guttram-Benwell Project Site

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Flood and Bushfire Risk The adjacent map show large overlapping areas of Flood risk and Bushfire prone areas.

While both town centers are excluded from the Bushfire Prone Area zoning, high level of fuel due to the adjacent forests can present significant threat.

While seasonal flooding is essential for the health and growth of river red gum forests, it is undoubtedly a threat to riparian towns. As a result, an architecture project in this region is a unique opportunity for a design that can withstand and embrace seasonal river flooding.

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Gutttram Guttram State F rest Fo Forest

Koond K Ko on nd

eest st

LEGEND LEG GEND Victoria V ict ctoria - NSW Border

Features o off Interest Intterest

rresource esource ne Area Area Flood plains

Map of Flood plain and Bushfire Prone Area in relation to town centre 54

Census Statistics While Koondrook and Barham are similar in demographics, education level, cultural and ancestrial backgrounds, language and religion, there are noticable differences in employment industries. This is a reflection of Barham as a more developed town with more tourism and public infrastructure.

While unemployment rate in both towns are low, 34% of couple families in Koondrook and 29.9% in Barham are both not working.

Another statistics to note is Internet is not accessed from 30.7% of Koondrook’s dwellings and 31.8% of Barham’s dwellings. A program with public wifi access can be a potential proposal to address this need.

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Population Median Age Average People per Household Predominant country of birth English only spoken at home Unemployment rate Top employment industry

Koondrook 991 52 2.1 Australia 94.1 % 3.6% Dairy cattle farming Supermarket Local Gov. Admin Aged care services Log sawmilling

Barham 1,518 56 2 Australia 89.4% 3.5% Hospital Primary education Dairy cattle farming Accommodation Hospitality

https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC21376 https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC10199

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Research

Week 3 | M Typology & Precedent

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River Typology Catalogue Drawing from not only the surrounding context of Koondrook and Barham, the thesis investigates the town hall and bridge typology from other Murray River towns. Through this exploration, it becomes apparent that an architectural language of monumentality and with Victorian style reference is common. Despite being riparian towns and relying on the river in many aspects of life, these town halls or council buildings show little physical connection to the river. Often located at town centres and along major roads, some incorporate civic functions such as theatre or library but most lack the capacity to support community river-front activities.

For riparian towns, bridges are undoubtedly an important infrastructure. In the case of Koondrook and Barham, it was not until the lift-bridge was opened in 1904 that the development of Barham gained momentum. Against the river scenery, the bridges often become picturesque attraction but lack tourism infrastructure to keep visitors longer than a few photographing minutes.

These typology precedents are useful studies of the river town context but more importantly, they present an insight into what are currently lacking, the challenges and opportunities that this thesis proposal can address and incorporate.

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Town Halls and Bridges of the Murray

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Hybridisation Exploration The river and its infrastructure form a unique architecture landscape in regional Victoria. In exploring the hybridisation of civic architecture and infrastructure, a question emerges: “What makes civic architecture civic?”. Civic buildings are often large and recognisable, which make its monumentality or public presence a critical aspect of being “civic”. In that sense, many infrastructure typologies already inherent this quality.

Bridges are often view as landmarks, while telecommunication towers can be recognised from a large distance.

Wharf + Tree observatory, Khue Nguyen

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Telecommunication tower + River research centre, Khue Nguyen

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Sámi Parliament

The Sámi people is an Arctic Indigenous group whose traditional territories interesect with the national borders of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Russia. [1] Except for Russia, each countries has a self-governing Sámi Parliament that serves as a political representative body for the Sámi people. Inaugurated in Finland in 1996, Norway in 1989, and Sweden 1993, these parliaments are constituional and legislated political bodies acting in the interest of the Sámi communities. [2] Reflecting the socio-econimic and cultural values of the people , many aspects outlined in the Finnish regulations are closely linked to the wellbeing of surrounding natural landscape. To highlight a few, they are: mineral exploitation, water resource uses and conservation, forestry, reindeer herding, nature park creation etc. [3] The Sámi Parliament Council brings together the Sámi Parliaments from Sweden, Finland, Norway and has permanent participants representing the Russian Sámi organisations.

[4] Despite the lack of legislated political power, this council is where discussions can reflect the Sámi people’s collective voice as one entity, regardless of national borders.

While the development of Sámi Parliaments is less relevant to this thesis focus in terms of Indigenous political rights, it highlights that in regional areas where natural resources dominate all life aspects and policies relating to the environment are at the core of people’s concerns, a platform to represent their collective voice is not only beneficial but crucial.

[1] Müller-Wille, L. (1979). The Sami Parliament in Finland: A model For ethnic minority management? Études/Inuit/Studies, 3(2), 63-72. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/42869458 [2] Pulk, Å M. (n.d.). About the Sámi Parliament. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://sametinget. no/about-the-sami-parliament/ [3] Greaves, W. (2016). Arctic (in)security and Indigenous peoples: Comparing Inuit in Canada and Sámi in Norway. Security Dialogue, 47(6), 461-480. doi:10.2307/26293808 [4] Sámi Parliamentary Council. (2020, May 12). Retrieved March 26, 2021, from https://www.samediggi.fi/sami-parliamentary-council/?lang=en

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Sami Home Area in Northern Finnish Lapland encompass parts of Sweden, Finland, Norway and Russia [1]

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Säynätsalo Town Hall | Alvar Aalto

Säynätsalo Town Hall is a relevant precedent study for this thesis proposal as critique to the people-government spatial relationship, particularly in a small town context.

While beautifully executed, the building’s monumental massing and materiality creates a sense of heaviness, and perhaps unwelcoming especially in the landscape of delicate tall pine trees. In the context of a small farming town, the expression of power and authority through architecture is an unnecessary approach to the addressing public interface.

Despite housing several public functions such as a library, reading room and public courtyard, the design is predominantly inward-oriented. There is little indication on the public-facing edges to promote public engagement. In the courtyard, there is little opportunities for activities to take place.

Internally, the approach to separate people’s space and government’s space is clearly expressed through the route to the council chamber. Upon entering the building, one must double back up the brick staircase to get to the chamber. [1] This is a strategic and deliberate gesture to visually avoid the people’s and government’s encounters. Daylight enters the brick staircase only through clerestory windows, shielding the government spaces from the public eyes.

[1] Ellis, T. (1961). THE DISCIPLINE OF THE ROUTE. Ekistics, 11(66), 343-345. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/43619909

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Floor plan at ground floor (highlighted area: double-back stairs to council chamber) Aalto, Alvar. (n.d.). Saynatsalo Town Hall. doi:10.2307/community.10798761

Brick staircase to council chamber Aalto, Alvar. (n.d.). Saynatsalo Town Hall. doi:10.2307/community.10801109

Exterior view

Aalto, Alvar. (n.d.). Saynatsalo Town Hall. doi:10.2307/community.10801109

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German Parliament - Reichstag| Foster + Partners

Located at the heart of history-rich Berlin and scarred with two World Wars, Reichstag is a precedent study for a wide range of architecture discussions. For this thesis, Reichstag highlights the contrast between classical architecture language and the notion of transparent, open and democratic design. [1]. The publicly accessible glass-and-steel cupola is direly above the parliament chamber and intended to give visitors views into parliament sessions. While conceptually clear, the design raises doubts as people cannot easily engage with the democratic process beyond looking at it from above. As the result, Reichstag’s dome is regarded by many as merely a symbolically political gesture geared towards our visual culture. [2] What Reichstag makes clear is the desire for parliament buildings of today to have the capacity for connection and engagement between law makers and their constituents. [3] To truly embrace this notion, architecture must push beyond the formula of transparency, openness and accessibility. With a smaller population of town residents and tourists, the towns selected for this thesis presents a viable opportunity to design for meaningful and tangible connection between the people and the policy making process.

[1] Barnstone, D. A. (2005). The transparent state : architecture and politics in postwar Germany (1st ed.). Routledge.

[2] Koepnick, L. (2001). Redeeming History? Foster’s Dome and the Political Aesthetic of the Berlin Republic. German Studies Review, 24(2), 303-323. doi:10.2307/1433478 [3] YANEVA, A. (2010). The “Architectural” as a Type of Connector: A Realist Approach to Architecture.

Perspecta, 42, 141-145. Retrieved March 26, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41679231

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Cross section through the parliamentary chamber and cupola

https://www.archdaily.com/775601/ad-classics-new-german-parliament-reichstag-foster-plus-partners

Cupola Walkway

Bruno Barbey. (n.d.). GERMANY. Berlin. 2006.

GERMANY. Berlin. Inside the Reichstag Dome by British architect Lord Norman FOSTER. doi:10.2307/ community.9847161

Reichstag

Courtesy of Foster + Partners

Sir Norman Foster & Partners. (n.d.). Reichstagsgebaude (Reichstag Building), Deutscher Bundestag (German Bundestag); oblique overview from northwest. doi:10.2307/community.14764911

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Design Exploration Week 4 | S

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The People & Government Encounter Drawing from the ideas discussed in Reichstag and Säynätsalo Town Hall, this thesis seeks to highlight the spatial relationship between spaces for the people and those for the government. At a smaller scale and regional town context, the key design opportunity will be using genuinely promoting public observation, monitor of and engagement with the policy making process, instead of symbolic geatures.

Diagram exploring the informal people traffic and formal government spaces, Khue Nguyen

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Greenwood Pond, Mary Miss

Courtesy of Mary Miss

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Treetop Walkway / Marks Barfield architects

Photo by Marianna Tedeschini

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Raudal Fuente De La Magdalena / CUAC Arquitectura

Photo by Javier Callejas Sevilla

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Kinagashima-Cho, 1987 / Andy Goldsworthy

Courtesy of Andy Goldsworthy

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Thesis Statement - week 4 In 2019 push-backs against the Victorian Forestry Plan to end native logging by 2030 revealed a misalignment between the Government policies and regional towns’ sociocultural and economic values.[1] In the context of severe ecological damages in the Murray-Darling Basin after centuries of large-scale human interventions, this is especially relevant to twin towns along the River Murray whose river politics representation is fragmented by the tri-state border.

This poses challenges to achieving effective and sustainable regional resource planning, which requires collection, analysis and reflection of local knowledge, moral and ethical values.[2] Envisioning new state borders that form the Murray Riparian State, a political representative body for the people and towns along the River Murray, this thesis focuses on the Mid Murray towns of Koondrook and Barham. Adjacent to the internationally significant Gunbower forest, the twin towns are rich with timber production history and agricultural context.[3] Through the juxtaposition of government’s and people’s spaces, this thesis challenges the conventional notion of government architecture and proposes a typological hybridisation of parliaments and footbridges. It serves as a local connector between the two towns; and regionally, a political parliament for Murray river towns.

Government buildings will be the key typology precedent to study the relationship between politics and architecture languages and design approaches. Sectional investigations of the river bed, banks and mapping of flood plains and inundation area will be crucial in shaping the building’s edge within the landscape.

[1] Victorian Forestry Plan. (2021, March 19). Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://djpr.vic.gov.au/ forestry/forestry-plan [2] Zhu, X., & Dale, A. P. (2000). Identifying Opportunities for Decision Support Systems in Support of Regional Resource Use Planning: An Approach Through Soft Systems Methodology. Environmental Management: An International Journal for Decision Makers, Scientists and Environmental Auditors, 26(4), 371. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s002670010094 [3] AUTHORITY, M. D. B. (2012). Gunbower Forest.

[4] Zhu, X., Pfueller, S., Whitelaw, P., & Winter, C. (2010). Spatial differentiation of landscape values in the Murray River region of Victoria, Australia. Environmental management, 45(5), 896-911.

Site Selection Taking into consideration the Heritage listed Koondrook-Barham bridge, which is under consideration for a pedestrian walkway addition, the project proposes the hybrid council building-footbridge close by. Choosing a site with proximity to Barham’s town centre and Koondrook’s environmental reserve, the project sees this as an opportunity to link two different groups of activities.

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Form Exploration

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Design Exploration Week 5 | XL - L - M - S

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Axes Two axes naturally emerges when investigating the site: one is the connection between Barham and Koondrook along the existing bridge, and the other is the river bank edge.

Looking at these two axes as the main paths of circulation, their intersection becomes a place of high traffic and has the potential to house a program of significance. Some programs for this location came to mind such as community theatre, library or council chamber.

Barham

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Programs

Based on the two main typologies, parliament and footbridge, additional programs are explored through investigating their relationship and connection with each other. Some questions emerged through this process:

- Which programs need to be adjacent to each other?

- How can flexible functions be translated into blurred spatial boundaries?

- Which programs benefit from connection to the river or the town centre?

- Which programs are required to have restricted access?

- Which programs can be combined into a multi-function space?

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Design Exploration

Situated along the river bank and adjacent to Barham town centre, it is critical for the project to address both the riverfront and street front. This presents an opportunity to propose a town plaza that the council chamber can open to, providing a larger space for community meeting or performance theatre. The public spaces with river frontage is an opportunity to activate the riverfront with recreational activities. This is appropriate given the existing caravan tourist part nearby.

As a hybridisation of a parliament and footbridge, delineating the building spaces with conventional walls and entry doors is not appropriate. The roof boundary emerges as a critical element that subtly signifies where the “building” begins and ends while the footbridge path continues beyond.

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Design Exploration Week 6

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Thesis Statement - Week 6 The Murray Riparian State A PARLIAMENT BY THE PEOPLE - FOR THE RIVER

In 2019 push-backs against the Victorian Forestry Plan to end native logging by 2030 revealed a misalignment between the Government policies, regional towns’ sociocultural and economic values, and an understanding of the ecological conditions.[1] In the context of severe ecological damages in the Murray-Darling Basin after centuries of large-scale human interventions, this misalignment is especially relevant to twin towns along the River Murray where river politics representation is fragmented by the tristate borders.

This poses challenges to achieving effective and sustainable regional resource planning, which requires collection, analysis and reflection of local knowledge, moral and ethical values.[2] Envisioning new state borders forming the Murray Riparian State, a political representative body for the people and towns along the River Murray, this thesis focuses on the Mid Murray towns of Koondrook and Barham. Adjacent to the internationally significant Gunbower forest, the twin towns are rich with timber production history and agricultural context.[3] Challenging the conventional notion of municipal architecture, a hybridisation of pedestrian bridge and parliament typologies is proposed to house the Murray Parliament, a river-specific library, and an observatory while providing recreational infrastructure at the riverfront. Through the juxtaposition of municipal programs and public spaces, the proposal highlights the intertwined politics-environment relationship in riparian towns and promotes awareness of the river ecology.

[1] Victorian Forestry Plan. (2021, March 19). Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://djpr.vic.gov.au/ forestry/forestry-plan [2] Zhu, X., & Dale, A. P. (2000). Identifying Opportunities for Decision Support Systems in Support of Regional Resource Use Planning: An Approach Through Soft Systems Methodology. Environmental Management: An International Journal for Decision Makers, Scientists and Environmental Auditors, 26(4), 371. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s002670010094 [3] AUTHORITY, M. D. B. (2012). Gunbower Forest.

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The proposal strategically position municipal and public functions adjacent to each other to express the idea that: A place where decisions are made for the people should be accessible to the people. While most conventional parliament buildings are open to public visitors, they rarely support programs that encourage regular visits and allow local residents to use the building.

In addition to municipal programs such as the council chamber, office spaces, reception and meeting/conference rooms, the Murray Parliament also supports the Murray River library, riverfront recreational infrastructure and an observatory deck. An important design consideration is the different access restriction requirements associated with each program. As a response to this, flexibility becomes a key planning aspect, allowing various programs to be combined or separated as needed.

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Building as Bridge

Through the hybridisation with a footbridge typology, the parliament serves not as an end destination but a transition along the public circulation path. This design gesture is an architectural statement that parliament buildings, which serve the people, belong in the public realm.

The project aims to highlight the relationship between politics, people and the environment through the physical interaction with the river, and the juxtaposition of public and municipal programs.

As a bridge typology, the building’s relationship and interaction with the river elements such as water, banks and vegetation is critical.

Barham Town Centre

Tourist Caravan Park

Riverfront

Koondrook Environmental Reserve

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Program Organisation

Programs are organised along the main circulation path, which also serves as an exhibition space. A variation in the width creates large zones for gathering where adjacent program such as the council chamber or library can open into.

Locating the council chamber at the corner of two main circulation paths is an attempt at revealing the political process to the public observation. Instead of occurring behind closed doors, council sessions are visible to anyone simply traversing the bridge, visiting the library, or fishing on the decks. By normalising such interaction between municipal and public programs, the project aims to promote public engagement and a sense of transparency in the political decision making process.

Town Centre

Observatory

Reception

Meeting Rooms

Footbridge

Exhibition / Circulation

Council Chamber

River Library Rec. Fishing

River Terrace

Platforms

Riverfront

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Visual Connection & Transparency

Instead of a large and solid building, the proposal is a porous structure which maintains visual connection to the river from both the building and town. The office spaces with restricted access is located on the upper level. This allows all spaces on the main level to be public or shared between restricted and public functions.

Town Centre

Public

Public

Shared Restricted L01

Restricted / Shared

Riverfront

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Envelope & River Edge

The project proposes a new perception of parliament building, one that does not project powerful authority over people or dominate and overpower the surrounding landscape.

This results in an approach of a semi-enclosed structure with a veil-like roof which unifies all elements within in.

Elevated from the ground and perched over the river bank, it addresses flooding concerns but also embraces moments where the building is submerged in the river.

Council Chamber

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Elevation Exploration to incorporate the architectural language from the footbridge, to building and tower.

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First Nations Engagement

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As a student, my project could better engage with first nations architectural culture by: • Further research on indigenous river knowledge and practices to inform how the “River Library” can include other methods of learning.

• Further research on indigenous architecture, especially roofing methods and materials. The canopy roof can be an opportunity to incorporate / express indeginous representation.

• Careful consideration of how the river and water is represented in drawings - as a connected network to all elements instead of a stand-alone “object”.

• Careful consideration of how river red gum trees are represented. Many in the region are Scarred Trees, revealing loss of barks due to natural process or boat building.

If this was a real project, it should: • Engage with the local indigenous community upon project inception (before any design starts) to build the brief and throughout the design process.

• Commission of indigenous artists and craftsman for visual/graphic arts, especially the railing language carried throughout the footbridge and building.

• Further research • Engagement with the Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) which includes delegates from 25 First Nations.

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Design Exploration Week 7

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Ancient Greek Demokratia - the Forum

The political ideal of equality among a state’s citizens can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks civilisation, despite its’ exclusion of women, slaves and foreigners from having civic rights. Not only did isonomia, the idea of equal treatment and respect under the law, ideologically transferred power from the royal one-man dictatorship to a democratic system, it also physically and architecturally moved the decision making process from closed-off palaces to the open spaces of the Agora.[1] Pnyx, Athens, a hillside to the west of the Acropolis is one of the earliest public forum for political assembly where politics were carried out in the open.

While curent political assemblies undoubtedly need more accomodation than an open and empty Agora, this precent serves as an example of a pure and clear architectural expression that reflects the political ideals.

Pnyx, Athens - Semi circular masonry to support a theatre-like structure Sudjic, D., & Jones, H. 1. (2001). Architecture and democracy. London: Laurence King.

[1]

Sudjic, D., & Jones, H. 1. (2001). Architecture and democracy. London: Laurence King.

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Pericles Orating on the Pnyx

Athens (Acropolis): Parthenon: Ref.: Pericles Orating on the Pnyx. (n.d.). Retrieved May 8, 2021, from https://jstor.org/ stable/10.2307/community.13927285

Pnyx, Athens - political assembly space responding to natural landscape hillside Sudjic, D., & Jones, H. 1. (2001). Architecture and democracy. London: Laurence King.

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The Palace of Westminster - United Kingdom

After the 1834 fire, the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament is an example of the British state expressing its political ideals through conscious architectural choices. Amongst the many decisions in the rebuilding process, the oblong House of Commons with its two sets of green leather benches two-and-a-half sword length across from each other, more than anything else, defines the character of the British parliament. [1] After the bombing of the House of Commons in 1941, Winston Churchill strongly pushed the design to maintain the previous interior, recognising the physical structure as part of what enables the parliament to carry on its ideals of democracy and banning dictatorship.

This precedent highlights the significance of the parliament chamber layout as an architectural reflection of the state’s political ideals - especially in the case of democracy.

House of Commons, Westminster Palace

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/30/house-of-commons-temporary-chamber-design-ahmm-richmond-house-westminster-missed-opportunity

[1]

Sudjic, D., & Jones, H. 1. (2001). Architecture and democracy. London: Laurence King.

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House of Commons original design by Barry & Pugin, 1870

Barry & Pugin, (Architect), Stuart, Francis Godolphin Osbourne, & English, active ca. 1860-ca. 1889, (Photographer). (n.d.).

House of Commons. Retrieved May 8, 2021, from https://jstor.org/stable/10.2307/community.9890401

Section through House of Commons Chamber - Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s design, 1944 Sudjic, D., & Jones, H. 1. (2001). Architecture and democracy. London: Laurence King.

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Site Plan

Building takes up small footprint and is anchored against the existing Heritage bridge.

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Floor Plan

Public seating is visually connected to the parliament chamber

LEVEL 05 20000

LEVEL 04 16000

LEVEL 03 12000

LEVEL 02 8000

LEVEL 01 3000

GROUND 0

West East section

Library tower above the public seating area

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1

Site - Corowa 1 : 500

Corowa

Koondrook 2

Site Plan During Week 7, a brief exploration on expanding the project to include three sites as examples of the semi-replicable parliament. The three selected sites are Corowa in NSW, Koondrook in VIC, and Mannum in SA. While the three towns and their different features/characters such as population, climate and river conditions provide interesting opportunities, the research required to produce meaningful architecture that responds specifically to these characters is beyond the viable scope of this thesis structure.

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Site - Barham 1 : 500

3

Site - Mannum 1 : 500

Mannum

Sectional parti Sectional iterations responding to the three towns history and climate reinforce two ideas that tie all replicable projects together: 1. The parliament chamber’s connection to the river and its water level fluctuation 2. A tower element acting as a landmark in the regional landscape 3. A public seating forum with clear visual connection to the chamber

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Design Exploration Week 8

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Roof geometry The tower and horizontal roof are the two most dominant geometries in the project.

The tower acts as a landmark, indicates the parliament building and anchors the project in a relatively flat landscape. The horizontal roof is a shell element that ties all the programs together and runs along the footbridge. These elements are different in their nature, and should be expressed architecturally as such.

However, a tectonic and design language needs to be explored to bring a sense of cohesion to the project as a whole.

Curved roof forming part of the tower base

Series of gable roof with clear separation from the tower

Footbridge ramps up and forms part of the occupiable roof around the tower

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Program adjacency Addressing the need for secured access office spaces, the iterations below explores how offices can be integrated into the ground floor. The key is to maintain the openness critical to the footbridge characteristics of the project. Connecting the office spaces to the chamber is a logical approach.

However it disrupts the visual connection between the main entry and the river.

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Design Exploration Week 9

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Thesis Statement - Week 9 The Missing Parliament THE MURRAY RIVER STATE

In 2019 push-backs against the Victorian Forestry Plan to end native logging by 2030 revealed a misalignment between the Government policies, regional towns’ sociocultural and economic values, and an understanding of the ecological conditions.[1] In the ecologically damaged Murray-Darling Basin context after centuries of large-scale human interventions, this misalignment is especially relevant to twin towns along the Murray River where river political representation is fragmented by the tristate borders.

This poses challenges to achieving effective and sustainable regional resource planning, which requires collection, analysis and reflection of local knowledge, moral and ethical values.[2] Envisioning new state borders forming the Murray Riparian State, a political representative body for the people and towns along the Murray River, this thesis proposes a new parliament model that is decentralised and semi-replicable at various twin towns.

Challenging the conventional notion of municipal architecture, this model hybridises the pedestrian bridge and parliament typologies while providing a river-specific library and recreational infrastructure at the riverfront. Through the juxtaposition of municipal programs and public spaces, the proposal highlights the intertwined politics-environment relationship in riparian towns and promotes awareness of the river ecology.

With their rich timber production history and adjacency to the internationally significant Gunbower forest, the Mid Murray towns of Koondrook and Barham will be the first site in which this model is further developed. [3]

[1] Victorian Forestry Plan. (2021, March 19). Retrieved March 24, 2021, from https://djpr.vic.gov.au/ forestry/forestry-plan [2] Zhu, X., & Dale, A. P. (2000). Identifying Opportunities for Decision Support Systems in Support of Regional Resource Use Planning: An Approach Through Soft Systems Methodology. Environmental Management: An International Journal for Decision Makers, Scientists and Environmental Auditors, 26(4), 371. https:// doi.org/10.1007/s002670010094 [3] AUTHORITY, M. D. B. (2012). Gunbower Forest.

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Tower - Forum - Chamber In this development of the project, the tower is shifted to align with the forum and parliament chamber instead of at the corner adjacent to the heritage bridge. This allows the project’s physical geometry to express the spatial relationship of these elements. In addition to acting as a landmark of the parliament, the tower also highlights where a new form of people-government interaction happens: the forum where people observe parliament sessions.

A series of enclosed spaces for secured-access offices and library are introduced along the edges.

They creates spaces with directions, some open towards Barham town centre while others open towards the river front.

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Tower: - Tree observatory & reading rooms - Secured office spaces

Tower Lobby Town Koondrook-Barham Bridge Pavilion

Public Seating Forum

Parliament Chamber

C sec hamb uri ty c er hec k

Floor plan The parliament chamber geometry breaks free from the roof, walkway and column grids. In this iteration, the library is spread out along the walkway to the east of the chamber.

Enclosed spaces creates a sense of directionality to spaces that open to the town or river front.

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Changes based on feedback

Timber sliding gate

Different level platforms to accommodate water level changes - high level = Crowded, less space to sit

Security check point Chamber entry

No built-in seating Unenclosed parliament chamber plaza

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Riv e Ka r fron yak t doc / k

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West East Section The undulating roof ties all the program spaces underneath but acts as a floating elements and not integrated with the walls below.

Roof areas adjacent to the tower are accessible and provide visitors with another vantage point to observe the surrounding landscape, specifically the red gum tree canopies.

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Floor Plan

Flood Level Average Water Level

North South Section The public seating forum is visually connected to the parliament chamber and serve as an extension of the river theatre when council is not in session.

Porous material allows the chamber to be flooded when water level rises.

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Design Exploration Week 10 and 11

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A Chamber on the River The project has developed to embrace the parliament chamber not as a structured fixed to the building, but one that reacts to and interact with the river. As a floating element, the chamber can form part of the building, or leaves an empty space indicating its existence when it is in another location. In this sense, the physical condition of the chamber itself is entirely tied to the river conditions. The poetic message here is one cannot ignore the river when they step in this chamber.

This approach also create an opportunity to question whether, in this political dialogue, the river needs to be present not only to the politicians but also the people.

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A Chamber on the River The following iterations explore the chamber’s geometry and how it meets the fixed platform. The key is a clear expression of where the chamber would “dock” for parliament session and subsequently, its absence at other times. This results in a cut-out of the floor platform that was previously aligned with the roof above. The two axes representing the river edge and formal town grid are maintained as a way to express the dialogue between these two entities.

In addition, a space where the river is present between the people and politicians is introduced here.

It is a gesture that gives the river a seat at the table, being physically present where and when decisions about it are made. It is also a poetic reminder that the intertwined relationship between people, politics and nature is one that must be recognised and respected.

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Library With the introduction of the tower aligning with the chamber, secured-access office spaces no longer need to be located on the ground floor. This creates an opportunity to have a less structured and more free-flowing library. Such language would strengthens the concept of the building as transition points along a footbridge. The iterations below experiment with using library joinery as a way to divide and define spaces.

The balance between enclosure and transparency in the shared work space is explored by lining display bookshelves along glass partitions.

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Tower The tower continues to be explored with regards to its geometry, programs, materiality and tectonic language. The idea of concealing and revealing structural elements is one that can be seen throughout the iterations below.

The challenge here is developing a tower that is:

1- Bespoke in its architecture 2- Appropriate to the regional context 3- Relates to the other strong geometries in the project (roof and chamber) 4- Programmatically suitable for the small population of Koondrook and Barham 5- Creates a sense of cohesion

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Makoko Floating School - Lago, Nigeria

Makoko Floating School by NLÉ Architects is a relevant precedent for this project in many aspects: 1- Its relationship and response to the water context, 2-Creating equity through the accessibility of service (in this case education) 3- A prototype for future replicable structures in other regions As a response to the community’s social needs and rapid climate change, the school is designed as a movable “watercraft” with that is resistant against flooding. Other sustainable aspects include the use of local material, rainwater harvesting, waste management etc. [1] The project not only provides learning spaces but also acts as a public gathering or play space when it is not used as a classroom.

Makoko Floating School http://www.nleworks.com/case/makoko-floating-school/

NLÉ Architects

[1] Riise, J., & Adeyemi, K. (2015). Case study: Makoko floating school. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 13, 58-60.

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Section

NLÉ Architects https://www.architectural-review.com/awards/ar-emerging-architecture/makoko-floating-school-by-nle-architects-lagos

Section diagram

NLÉ Architects http://www.nleworks.com/case/makoko-floating-school/

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Pavilion of Reflection - Lake Zurich

Pavilion of Reflection, a temporary project designed by students of Studio Tom Emerson, is relevant to this thesis in its interaction with the water through level changes and allowing the water to become the focal point in key spaces. A forum seating stairs leads to a series of steps in the kiddie pool where water filters through.

The exposed structure becomes an architectural language that ties the five buildings in the project together. Despite each having a strong geometrical form, there is a sense of cohesion throughout the project.

Makoko Floating School https://emerson.arch.ethz.ch/construction/pavilion-of-reflections

Studio Tom Emerson

[1] Riise, J., & Adeyemi, K. (2015). Case study: Makoko floating school. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 13, 58-60.

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Kiddie pool at theatre space

Photo by Wolfgang Traeger https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/11768-the-pavilion-of-reflections-by-studio-tom-emerson

Section drawing

Studio Tome Emerson https://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/29/pavilion-of-reflections-eth-zurich-students-studio-tom-emerson-wooden-floating-manifesta-art-biennale-switzerland/

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Bibliography

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Greenwood Pond, Mary Miss Treetop Walkway / Marks Barfield architects Raudal Fuente De La Magdalena / CUAC Arquitectura Kinagashima-Cho, 1987 / Andy Goldsworthy

Courtesy of Mary Miss Photo by Marianna Tedeschini Photo by Javier Callejas Sevilla Courtesy of Andy Goldsworthy

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